James Gurney

This daily weblog by Dinotopia creator James Gurney is for illustrators, plein-air painters, sketchers, comic artists, animators, art students, and writers. You'll find practical studio tips, insights into the making of the Dinotopia books, and first-hand reports from art schools and museums.

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Imaginative Realism

Dinotopia: The World Beneath

"A ravishing, action-packed adventure." —Smithsonian. Now with 32 extra behind-the-scenes pages. Signed by the author/illustrator

Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara

160 pages, fully illustrated in color. Written and illustrated by James Gurney. Signed by the author

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or by email:gurneyjourney (at) gmail.comSorry, I can't give personal art advice or portfolio reviews. If you can, it's best to ask art questions in the blog comments.

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All images and text are copyright 2015 James Gurney and/or their respective owners. Dinotopia is a registered trademark of James Gurney. For use of text or images in traditional print media or for any commercial licensing rights, please email me for permission.

However, you can quote images or text without asking permission on your educational or non-commercial blog, website, or Facebook page as long as you give me credit and provide a link back. Students and teachers can also quote images or text for their non-commercial school activity. It's also OK to do an artistic copy of my paintings as a study exercise without asking permission.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Lawrence Summers is the former president of Harvard University and Secretary of the Treasury under President Clinton. He is currently the Director of the National Economic Council for President Obama.

I sketched him yesterday in his home in Brookline, Massachusetts. If you’re wondering why I’m here in Massachusetts, stay tuned until tomorrow…I’ll explain.

This is a tiny Woodnotes pocket sketchbook, only 3.5 x 4.5 inches, with a Derwent Inktense watercolor pencil and a fountain pen, softened up with a water brush.Above, photo by Kerry Anne Bradford-----Wiki on Summers, link.

I have to say, I just read through a whole bunch of your blog and it's like being back in art school again with what i'm learning. THANKS soooo much for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us. I'm lovin it!

This sounds like an interesting story in the making. Mr. Summers is smack dab in the thick of things and must be exhausted from the effort to set this great ship right.

The great thing about art, and especially illustration, is how people can comment on and contemplate aesthetics without making reference to the contemptible political discourse of the day. Art gives us a free space to just be people. In a lot of ways I think the purpose of art is to get past words and salesmanship and ideology, and to just find, instead, our commonality. I don't know about other people, but having that "free space" is very important to me.

Kev, you said it beautifully. We were invited to Mr. Summers' home only because of one of my sons is friends with one of his kids. I don’t really understand the complex issues surrounding his public life, but I can say he was a very gracious host, and it was an honor to meet him.

When I draw someone, whether they're a famous person or a homeless person (and I drew both extremes today) I just try to draw what I see. My only regret is that I rarely have enough time in my quick sketches to really explore the psychology of the person I'm drawing.

Java Chickn--if this blog feels like art school, it's thanks to the fun and smart community of commentators, who keep it bustling. I really appreciate everything you all bring to it.

Andy, haven't checked out the CCS. Thanks for the tip. Oscar, nah, it wasn't a portrait commission! Hat's off to those who can navigate those waters.